Day 1: San Francisco

Meet your tour guide at 4 PM in hotel lobby for introductions, then embark on drive to Sausalito—picturesque gem of Marin County– with views of San Francisco Bay. Drive over Golden Gate Bridge, walk to vista point, and afterwards dine on the Bay in Sausalito. Here you will receive travel materials and get to know your travel companions.

Day 2: San Francisco – Santa Cruz – Oakhurst

Drive Highway 1 up the Pacific coast. Explore the beach at a Marine Reserve, for a costal look at the beautiful coastal ecosystems, then proceed to the historic San Juan Bautista Mission for lunch and explore California’s Spanish colonial history. 2 nights in Oakhurst California near the entrance to Yosemite National Park.

Day 3: Mariposa Grove – Yosemite National Park

Discover the beauty of Yosemite National Park and take a easy hike amid the giant Sequoias at Mariposa Grove. Stop at Pioneer Yosemite History Center for a walk over a covered bridge and exploration of historic buildings. Explore the highlights of Yosemite Valley; walk to Bridalveil Fall and Yosemite Falls; enjoy the Native American live art demonstrations and other resources at Yosemite Valley Visitor Center.

Day 4: Yosemite National Park – Tioga Pass – Mono Lake – Bodie Ghost Town- Bridgeport

Cross the Sierra Nevada mountain range today, stop for walk through Tuolumne Meadows, a wonderful landscape of glacially shaped granite peaks, then drive over Tioga Pass (elevation: 9943 feet, 3031 meters). In the Great Basin on the east side of the Sierras, we explore the otherworldly beauty of Mono Lake, a vital habitat for millions of migratory and nesting birds. Next we drive the gravel road to the largest ghost town of California, Bodie. Many buildings are open to explore and still have furniture and household items left back in this remote location, once the boom was over. This place provides an original view into the gold mining area in the mid to late 1800’s. Night in the farming town of Bridgeport, California.

Day 5: Bridgeport – Lake Tahoe – Virginia City

We travel to crystalline Lake Tahoe. Following the Sierras today’s travels include many magnificent views, and an easy hike to a mountain lake. Then, continue to Virginia City, to which the Comstock Lode lured thousands of miners with the promise of gold and silver. Night in Virginia City, Nevada.

Day 6: Virginia City – Fort Churchill – Lahontan Reservoir – Tonopah, Nevada

A brief detour off of Highway 50 – the loneliest road in America – brings us to Fort Churchill, a way station on the Pony Express and Central Overland Routes from the 1860s. We walk through the ruins of Fort Churchill to the Central Overland Pony Express Station for an informative video about the Pony Express days. Picnic on Walker Lake, Nevada’s largest natural lake. Once we arrive at historic mining town Tonopah, we explore their well preserved large silver mine area, once the largest in the State of Nevada. We check into the old Grand Hotel of Tonopah, opened in 1905 and once the tallest building in Nevada. After years of decay it recently was renovated to its full glory. One night in Tonopah.

Day 7: Tonopah – Extra Terrestrial Highway – Cathedral State Park – Ely, Nevada

We drive on the Extra Terrestrial Highway with an occasional UFO sighting. Picnic is at a tree covered Area. In the middle of nowhere we find ourselves within an unreal, fascinating landscape, protected as the Cathedral State Park. Here we take a short hike and enjoy lots of unusual photo opportunities. In the evening we arrive in Ely, a copper mining town in the outback of Nevada. One night in Ely.

Day 8: Great Basin National Park – Delta, UT

After breakfast we start the day with a ride on the “Ghost train of Ely”, the Nevada Northern Railway, a historical steam train and visit the impressive Depot Museum. A rare experience will be offered while driving from the low-lying desert to Great Basin National Park that peaks 6,840 ft/2,084 m. From sagebrush country we reach a glacier carved peak for a hike to the oldest living trees on earth, the Bristlecone Pines, up to 5000 years (snow permitting). We picnic along a little creek in flowering meadows shaded by tall Ponderosa Pines. Night in little Town Delta.

Day 9 & 10: Kennecott Copper Mine – Salt Lake City

Our  onward journey takes us to one of the largest open-pit cooper mines, the Kennecott Mine, with expansive views. Drive along the Great Salt Lake on our way to Salt Lake City, with a stop at the Antelope Island where buffalo and pronghorn antelope roam free. In the evening we arrive in the pedestrian friendly capitol city of Utah.

Tour ends after breakfast (included). Journey home or continue on your own. We will gladly assist you in booking further travel.

This tour is combinable with an 8 day tour to Yellowstone National Park. For further information please go to: “Yellowstone North” or contact us. Combo-discounts apply!